Campbell on taking lead in RT competition, Barry

As the season opener approaches in 10 days, the Miami Hurricanes are getting closer to resolving the many position battles that have been raging since the spring. One such area of interest has been at right tackle, where redshirt freshman John Campbell has been competing for a starting role.

“I feel like it’s a good competition. I just come in here with a mindset every day to just work and get better,” Campbell said. “These days are ticking down and you can’t afford to lose a day. You really got to come in and try to improve on at least one thing every day and just get better. That’s from a team standpoint, a player standpoint, and even for the coaches.”

Although he started the fall on the second team behind sophomore Kai-Leon Herbert, Campbell progressed his way to first team last week and has held steady in UM’s starting 5 on the OL since.

“It’s been my consistency,” Campbell said of why he was elevated. “I come into work every day and I just try to help everybody out. I ask questions and it pretty much started transitioning to the field.”

Campbell has practiced at both guard and tackle in his short Miami career, but says he does prefer tackle.

“Guard, you’re pretty much on the inside, and you have help everywhere,” Campbell said. “Tackle you have to be alone sometimes, and I like 1-on-1 matchups.”

Even though the coaches have told the O-Line that the starting 5 is not yet set, Campbell feels the group that has been mainly taking first team snaps has a chance to gel and become something special.

“We don’t really have a final five right now, but the people that’s up right now, I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job,” Campbell said. “We still got some stuff to touch up on, everybody makes mistakes every day, but I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job right now. Corey (Gaynor), he’s making a great case, is doing what he can. And then we got Vaughn (Donaldson) up there, Vaughn’s a vet, been there for a minute. Zion (Nelson), (DJ) Scaife, we’re all a team.”

UM has a new offensive line coach in 2019 in Butch Barry, who came over from the Tamp Bay Buccaneers to change the culture in the O-Line room and bring what has been an underwhelming group back to respectability. Although Campbell said it took some time to adjust to Barry’s coaching style, he feels the new techniques the O-Line is learning is having lasting effects on the players.

“I’ve seen big improvements since he’s been here,” Campbell said of Barry. “Guys taking risks and everybody learning to trust everybody. Coach Barry came in with a different mindset, different drills, from a different atmosphere - he came from Tampa. He’s really a teacher, he has a different way to instill things into his players. We came from the spring and we were all confused, because he came in with different techniques and everything. Everyone was wondering like ‘Wow, what is this?’ But then we really started to trust it, he showed us it worked, and we’ve stuck with it and we’re improving every single day.”

Starting this week, Miami began prep for the Florida Gators game on August 24th. Watching the Gator’s defensive line on film, Campbell feels there’s not much difference from the guys he matches up against everyday on Greentree.

“I’ve been seeing pretty much what we see every day in practice – big, fast, twitch, everything,” Campbell said of UF. “Greg (Rousseau), (Jon) Garvin, Scott (Patchan), they’re all tall, they have an advantage with long arms, they’re fast, they have power. You have to always come with your ‘A’ game because you don’t know what they’re going to bring that play.”

What are his goals for the 2019 season?

“I’d like to be an All-American,” Campbell said. “Just trying to work and trying to be a team player. One day, I’d like to be a captain on this team.”

Love his attitude.

Fascinated to learn more about the technique he's using that is so different.

There's an art to the OL. Barry must be doing something, because guys like Romberg have gone from saying Searles was coaching these guys right to saying he was trash. It doesn't sound like all hype.
 
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OT is going to make our break us this year. I "hope" Nelson is as good as Jason Fox was as a Freshman and that Campbell is ale to live up to his "potential" as a RSF. But having been following this for a few decades now, it's rare that the problems you see going into Fall Camp get fixed by September barring some unexpected personnel shift like when Seantrel transferred from USC to Miami. And to me, this is THE problem, much more so than QB.

I'm rooting for Campbell, he's got the toolbox. But the probabilities of both Nelson and Campbell being stout are low. I still expect Enos/Barry to kick Scaife outside before, during or immediately after the UF game. We have decent OG options.
 
For the OL experts out there...

Can Zion and Campbell, size aside, really hold up to DEs a few years older with growth and maturity at this point in their careers?

Speaks volumes these young men are pushing/beating out last year's incumbents...

I told people campbell or herbert was going to be one of our right tackles with scaife starting at left. But coach barry is a real True o-line coach, he underdtood like most of us, that scaife needed to be on the inside, his more natural position, so he didnt waist anytime making the move cause smartly, he'd rather have the inside play of the o-linemen strong, and develop the outside. Our boy campbell is a mauler in the run game on the outside. While i always liked the nelson pick up, and some have posted my old post to prove it, i was thinking he'd have a chance to take over a tackle spot later in the year at best but once he started putting that type of weight, it was only a matter of time. People thought i was joking when i said back before neal committed to Bama that it was more competition here than at Bama for neal to get on the field here, cause i said at the time, he wasnt taking scaife's spot so it was only one tackle spot availabe, and if he lost the competition to campbell or herbert, he might not be seeing the field as a starter for 3 more years! So to answer your question, with the type of defense we play, and the type of v d-line we have, its only going to force c an accelerate the development of our young guns. Remember, coach kehoe was famous for developing young o-linemen and starting True freshman!
 
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Our young tackles will take some L' s early on but I still believe what they see in practice will be tougher than the UF front 7. They were much better up front with Muschamp but their d line has taken a bit of a step back talent wise so I don't think Zion and John should be intimidated one bit. By midseason this unit could be quite good if they stay healthy and learn from mistakes made early on in the first 5 games or so.
 
For the OL experts out there...

Can Zion and Campbell, size aside, really hold up to DEs a few years older with growth and maturity at this point in their careers?

Speaks volumes these young men are pushing/beating out last year's incumbents...
They'll get beat sometimes for sure, but having a guy like Enos who will call plays and build schemes to protect the inexperienced tackles, and an accurate passer like jarren helping the offense be more efficient and avoid 3rd and long situations will be huge for the betterment of Zion and John.
 
OT is going to make our break us this year. I "hope" Nelson is as good as Jason Fox was as a Freshman and that Campbell is ale to live up to his "potential" as a RSF. But having been following this for a few decades now, it's rare that the problems you see going into Fall Camp get fixed by September barring some unexpected personnel shift like when Seantrel transferred from USC to Miami. And to me, this is THE problem, much more so than QB.

I'm rooting for Campbell, he's got the toolbox. But the probabilities of both Nelson and Campbell being stout are low. I still expect Enos/Barry to kick Scaife outside before, during or immediately after the UF game. We have decent OG options.

I hear you but if Manny and the defensive coaches are doing their job the tackles are getting tested daily. I expect our team to play at high level because Manny set the tone for what's expected. I'd like to think they picked the most physical and mentally prepared 22 players to start.
 
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Love Campbell's upside, he's a prototype RT at 6'6 310lbs with long arms & can move.

He just needs time for it all to click together, but what stands out about him is his natural strength, he's not getting bullied & can anchor. Technique is still being refined, but as the season progresses he should settle in at that spot.

Once Zion, Big Vaughn, Gaynor, Scaife & Campbell all gel they can be a very solid cohesive unit. One thing I'm confident on is we'll see an improvement on run blocking from this group, pass blocking we'll see, but I believe our run game will look much better in Enos system & with Coach Barry teaching these guys.

The true beauty of this line is they could all be back next season even the full second team. This line could be deep and talented as **** come 2020

1st Team
LT Zion Nelson SO
LG Navaughn Donaldson SR
C Corey Gaynor RJR
RG DJ Scaife JR
RT John Campbell RSO

2nd Team
LT Kai-Leon Herbert RJR
LG Cleveland Reed RSO
C Jakai Clark SO
RG Ousman Traore RSO or JR
RT Zalon'tae Hillery RJR

3rd Team
LT Adam ElGammel RFR
LG Zach Dykstra RJR
C Antonio Smith (EE) FR
RG Jalen Rivers (EE) FR
RT Issiah Walker (EE) FR

Thats the makings of championship depth on the O Line
 
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The true beauty of this line is they could all be back next season even the full second team. This line could be deep and talented as **** come 2020

1st Team
LT Zion Nelson SO
LG Navaughn Donaldson SR
C Corey Gaynor RJR
RG DJ Scaife JR
RT John Campbell RSO

2nd Team
LT Kai-Leon Herbert RJR
LG Cleveland Reed RSO
C Jakai Clark SO
RG Ousman Traore RSO or JR
RT Zalon'tae Hillery RJR

3rd Team
LT Adam ElGammel RFR or Issiah Walker FR
LG Zach Dykstra RJR
C Antonio Smith (EE) FR
RG ???
RT Jalen Rivers (EE) FR

Thats the makings of championship depth on the O Line
Issaih Walker's skillset and EE status make him a candidate to be a swing tackle by this time next year. Kid is really talented.

I think Rivers ultimately ends up inside.
 
Sad that Herbert and the rest of the OTs got beat out by a RSF and a true freshman for the starting spots.
Is it? I like Herbert but man it does speak to talent of campball and nelson. I like the approach get athletic undersized guys get in weight room bulk them up. Wisconsin/iowa some of the best olines in college do this. I just want the best guys to play so our qb has time. give Williams a bit of time and he won't miss wide open wr's like we have seen last 2 yrs.
 
Issaih Walker's skillset and EE status make him a candidate to be a swing tackle by this time next year. Kid is really talented.

I think Rivers ultimately ends up inside.
Kinda like what's happened with Donaldson? How would you compare the 2 (Rivers)?
 
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Richter predictable offense did not help at all. El Foldo had OL that would block effectively against FSU all American DL season after season with decent play calling. Enos seems to be a step up above that. Also going back to the single back will help us imo. I prefer that offense with stretch hand offs and the RBs pick the hole. OL dont have to try to over power every DL and then the PA becomes deceptive, bootlegs and such.
 
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The true beauty of this line is they could all be back next season even the full second team. This line could be deep and talented as **** come 2020

1st Team
LT Zion Nelson SO
LG Navaughn Donaldson SR
C Corey Gaynor RJR
RG DJ Scaife JR
RT John Campbell RSO

2nd Team
LT Kai-Leon Herbert RJR
LG Cleveland Reed RSO
C Jakai Clark SO
RG Ousman Traore RSO or JR
RT Zalon'tae Hillery RJR

3rd Team
LT Adam ElGammel RFR or Issiah Walker FR
LG Zach Dykstra RJR
C Antonio Smith (EE) FR
RG ???
RT Jalen Rivers (EE) FR

Thats the makings of championship depth on the O Line

this entire second unit is a giant question mark... i'd pump the brakes on championship depth until we know who can actually play
 
Yep.

The inside running game will be a lot better with the guards and center. Also I expect bigger holes and more explosive runs with all the eye candy Enos uses. All the motion will slow down the ends coming off the edge.
I’ve been saying all along...let’s run it right up their a$$. Those DBs for UF don’t want to tackle anyone. They don’t have the depth to rotate guys. Wear them down then let Jarren pick them apart.
 
Issaih Walker's skillset and EE status make him a candidate to be a swing tackle by this time next year. Kid is really talented.

I think Rivers ultimately ends up inside.

Fixed it

LT Adam ElGammel RFR
LG Zach Dykstra RJR or Jared Griffith RSO
C Antonio Smith (EE) FR
RG Jalen Rivers (EE) FR
RT Issiah Walker (EE) FR

That would actually be better for the future of this team. Hopefully Dykstra or Jared Griffith (RSO) can step into that 3rd LG spot. What I like the most about this is it allows the team to go 3 deep on offense and defense making the spring more competitive further accelerating the development of these kids.

2020 Defensive Line 3 Deep

1st Team
LE Scott Patchan 6yrSR (Could return for his 6th season)
DT Jonathan Ford SR
DT Nesta Jade Silvera JR
RE Jonathan Garvin SR (Could return for his SR season)

2nd Team
LE Gregory Rousseau RSO
DT Jordan Miller RSO
DT Jason Blissett SO
RE Jaelan Phillips RJR

3rd Team
LE Cameron Williams RFR or Chantz Williams (EE) FR or Romello Height (EE) FR
DT Jalar Holley RFR
DT Jared Harrison-Hunte RFR
RE Jahfari Harvey SO

Should be some epic battles come next spring
 
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